I have for some time struggled quite a bit with getting work actually done to the point I worried about staying employed. While waiting on getting a time for adhd evaluation (queue is a few years..) I've met with an occupational therapist who had some tips and some assistive devices and seems to have maybe not solved things but made it manageable.
The trick that did it for me? A little whiteboard I can have a todo list on that sits right next to my computer screen and a very easy-to-use timer (you just twist the thing in the middle and it starts). Having an easily accessible todo list always visible out of the corner of my eye is amazing, honestly. And when you start on the next thing, twisting that timer up to an hour (or less) makes sure there is a limit to how long you work on the thing. It doesn't matter if you manage to finish it, that's a future problem don't think about it, what matters is you sit down and do something for a limited time. (Adding time limits to todos specifically can also be very helpful.) It makes the task seem more manageable for neurospicy brains. (Also, get up and stretch every time the timer goes off, it's good for you!)
Now there is one huuuge downside to this thing. Well two. If you can't get a lender for free from your healthcare system, the original Time Timer is like €50 and I think the whiteboard was an additional €25. Not worth it, honestly. I have seen cheaper knockoffs on amazon so if you want one get one of those maybe?
The second is that when you turn off the alarm-sound on it I, at least, will often not notice when the time's up, which defeats a large part of the purpose of it. But if you have the alarm on, it's so load and shrill it's actually painful to my ears and probably a lot of other senses-sensitive people out there, who are largely the target audience. They did a bit of an oopsie in the design there.. At least it makes no other noise?
(Also, I'm hoping to build my own version of the timer, one that's digital (though probably still with a circle graphic, at least as an option) and the last parts I need to start working up a prototype should arrive any minute! ^^)
UPDATE: apparently there's a knock-off version that you can set to blink a light for 3 to 30 seconds instead of making a noise! Honestly, sounds kinda great!
#autism #adhd
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